May Is National Older Americans Month

Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads our nations Observance of Older Americans Month. This year’s theme is, Connect, Create, and Contribute, which encourages older adults and their communities to:

• Connect; with friends, family, and services that support Older Americans.
• Create; by engaging in activities that promote learning, health, and personal enrichment.
• Contribute; time, talent, and life experience to benefit others.

It has been proven that Communities that encourages and embrace the contributions of older adults are stronger!  By engaging and supporting all community members, we recognize that Elders play a key role in the vitality of our Community and the lives of our Members as has always been the tradition, every day, all year long, generation after generation.

Currently in the St. Croix Band of Ojibwa, the Elder Member population is 252 and breaks down as follows:

• Members 55-65 years of age: 132, of which 82 Female and 50 Male
• Members 66-85 years of age: 109, of which 61 Female and 48 Males
• Members 86-100 years of age: 11, of which 8 Female and 3 Males
• And Member Centenarians, those 100 years and over: 0.  

There are many opportunities throughout the Tribal Community and the surrounding counties to Connect, Create and Contribute.

For example, you can Connect at the monthly Elder Luncheons, Daily Meal Sites (Tribal and County), or at the Save your Brain event offered the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the Danbury Community Tribal Hall.

You can Create at the St. Croix Tribal Education Center as many activities are offered and the Cultural Activities Night offered at the Danbury Community Tribal Hall on Thursdays from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm includes both teaching and learn opportunities as well as an optional Pot Luck meal.

You can Contribute your story telling, cooking skills, beading instruction and more at these events and many more throughout the Tribal and extended Communities.

In addition, the traditional skills of netting and spearing, ricing, hunting, drumming and dancing, and more are as much in demand today as ever.

There are always those young and old eager to learn, so the sharing of skills by the Elders is always very much wanted, needed and appreciated for the community to continue to be strong from generation to generation.

In addition, there are many resources available for the Elders, their families and caregivers, both in the Tribal Community and the surrounding Counties.  hese include:  Community Health Nursing Programs, Home delivered meals, Community meal sites, Aging and Disability Resources Centers, Dementia Care Specialists, Transportation Assistance, Community Activity Centers, Libraries, and more.

Everyone benefits when everyone participates. We encourage you to Connect, Create, and Contribute for a stronger and more diverse community this May, and throughout the year.

Tribal Resources Include:

• St. Croix Tribal Center, including the following units:
• Aging Unit: 1-877-236-2196 or 715-349-2195
• Clinic: 1-877-455-1901 or 1-715-349-8554
• Community Health Nurses: 1-877-455-1901 or 715-349-8554
• Elder Advocates: 1-877-349-5102
• Dementia Care Specialist:  1-877-455-1901 or 715-349-8554
• Youth Center/Education: 1-715-349-5312
• Health and Human Services: 1-877-455-1901 or 1-715-349-8554
• Mental Health/AODA:  1-877-455-1901 or 1-715-349-8554
• Danbury Community Center:  715-656-3227
• Sand Lake Community Center:
• Round Lake Community Center:  715-857-5517
• Maple Plains Community Center:  715-822-3034

Monthly education and activities at the Danbury Community Center: 2nd Tuesday noon – 2:00 pm, open to Elders, Caregivers and Adult community members.

Area Resources Include:

• ADRC of Northwest Wisconsin: 1-877-485-2372 or 1-715-349-2100 (Serving Burnett & Polk Counties)
• Barron County ADRC: 1-888-538-3031 or 1-715-537-6225
• Barron County Human Services:  1-715-537-5691
• Burnett County Health and Human Services:  1-715-349-7600
• Polk County Human Services:  1-715-485-8400
• Washburn County ADRD: 715-635-4460
• Washburn County Human Services: 715-468-4747

National Native American Resources:

• National Resource Center on Native American Aging, University of North Dakota.  http://www.nrcnaa.org/.
• National Resource Center on American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Elders at the University of Alaska – Anchorage.  http://elders.uaa.alaska.edu/.
• The Ha Kupuna Center for Native Hawaiian Elders, University of Hawaii.  http://manoa.hawaii.edu/hakupuna/.
• National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative (NIEJI). http://www.nieji.org/.
• Administration for Community Living Phone: (202) 401-4634, Email: ACLinfo@acl.hhs.gov or  http://www.ACL.gov or www.aoa.gov.